WD-40-derived peptides and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a polypeptide composition effective to alter the activity of a first protein that interacts with a second protein, where the second protein contains at least one WD-40 region. The polypeptides of the present invention typically have between 4 and 50 amino acids whose sequence is the same as a sequence of the same length in the WD-40 region of the second protein. The invention further includes a method of altering the activity of the above described first protein. In one embodiment of the invention the polypeptide composition is effective to alter the activity of a protein kinase C, where the protein kinase C interacts with a second protein, and the second protein contains at least one WD-40 region (e.g., RACK1).

It is claimed: 
     
       1. A method of altering the activity of a protein kinase C that interacts with a second protein, where the second protein contains at least one WD-40 region, comprising contacting a polypeptide which has an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:4 or SEQ ID NO:7 with said protein kinase C under conditions which allow the formation of a complex between the polypeptide and the protein kinase C, where the formation of said complex inhibits the interaction between said protein kinase C and said second protein; or contacting a polypeptide which has the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:7 with said protein kinase C under conditions which allow the formation of a complex between the polypeptide and the protein kinase C, where the formation of said complex stimulates the activity of said protein kinase C.